Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-06
EDITORIAL.
WHY FARMERS FAIL.
Some of the Principal Causes and their
Remedy.

Some of the Principal Causes and their
Remedy.
lWritten expressly for the "Farmers' Mutual
Journal by Jos. Freudenfeld.
AS time rolls Oh we are more and
more impressed with the fact that
many ct our farmers, good Industrious
men, instead of making that progress
and improvement which should stand
as record of the receeding years, are
gradually but surely falling back, their
condition each year becoming worse
than the preceding one. Is it because
from one hundred to two hundred acres
under cultivation fail to produce suf-
icient amount of grain to enable an
economical. hard working farmer to
keep even with the world? We un-
hesitatingly say. no. The sun in its
restless march does not shine on richer,
better land than the soil of our grand
Terrific ry, Dakota. Not one of the
great array of states and territories can
boast OF soil that is capable of produc-
ing superior crops in greater abundance
than ours. We have known many a
man in the states to make a comfort
| able living and oftentimes snug little
bank account besides; by farming forty
or fifty acres Of land situated in the
woods, where it has cost him years of
hard labor to get rid of the trees and
stumps before the soil was in condition
to be planted to grain. Why is it then
that our farmers can not accomplish
better results upon land that is already
for the plow? Being one OF the earliest
settlers OF Aurora County we have had
q fine opportunity of observing the
ways and means which lead to failure
on the farm and when we hear man
"cussing" Dakota; proclaiming it unfit
| for dog to live in; stating that he
came here from old "York" or some
other state with snug sum of money;
that he has q hundred or more acres
under cultivation, has worked like a
slave and is now at the end of the
string, momentarily expecting the
sheriff to appear with chattle mort
gage foreclosure etc, we are not the
least discouraged. These things do not
shake our belief in the fertility Of the
rich soil Or the advantages of the fine
climate Of Dakota. We simply see in
such chses further effect Of the extra.
VACANT expectations and gross mis-.
management which characterizes sc
many Dakota farmers,
) But happily not all of our farmers
fail. All over, out vast prairies are
dotted with happy cheerful homes filled
with class of contented, industrious
people such as we will challenge any
state in the Union to surpiss in point
! of intelligence or shrewdness and pros
perity. Failures are fortunately tn.
:, exception and not the rule, and these
: exceptional cases would be reduced q
per cent, were little more judgment
exercised in the management of farm
!: affairs. The surest and probably thu
quickest way to ruin; Is borrowing
:. money at the prevailing rate of interest
charged. We have known instances
where monied sharks have charged as
J, high as 10 per cent. per mohth for the
!! use of money; four and three per cent
!! being the regular rate and he who is
fortunate enough to borrow at two pei
); cent. is Is looked Upon as having secur
! ed an extraordinary bargain. The mar
I who is situated that he is compelled tc
), borrow money at such rates, year il
! and year out, is sure to be eventually
1 driven to the wall,
i The Question is asked, = how can 8
J, farmer get along without borrowing
1 This is easily solved. BY using goot
! judgment; by close figuring and above
ill by strict economy. When starting
4 out to make home on the prairie, take
!! the example of our, friends in the wood:
1 Of Wisconsin. remember that you ar,
laying the foundation for your future
4 home. The house may be ever SD humb
i lie, and the walls built of black sod, ye1
u It is capable Of sheltering happy con
: tented hearts. First provide garde1
On which you can raise over !one-hal'
of yout living. You can raise YOU
own meat and the proceeds of butter
and eggs should pay you. grocery bill
When money is scarce, hay and corr
stalks make fail. fuel. Make it cheer
full about ycpr buildings and yard by
setting out. trees as soon as you have
;, the ground in condition to receive
50 them. Do not raise any more wheat
: than just what you need to supply xo,
With rcur for the first fen years, An'
when You do raise wheat, don't buy
/ binder or other expensive machinery
9. g. for if 5ou do, you will. be induced t.
execute an innocent looking little chat
tie mortgage upon the machine ane {
:. your team and probably "old brlndie>
Is viii be lncluaed. Here is where thu
L., A clock tGJkpi